Dan Evans has criticised the ATP and WTA after the two organisations have threatened to disrupt the Grass Court season.
The topic comes as the LTA prepare to make a decision on whether Russian and Belarussian players will be allowed to play at British Grass court events.
Last year the athletes from Russia and Belarus were banned as a consequence of the war on Ukraine.
However they were the only tournaments to ban the athletes with the ATP and WTA deciding not to award ranking points at Wimbledon.
Now the ATP and WTA have gone one step further and threatened to strip the LTA of Grass court tournaments such as Queen’s Club, Nottingham, Birmingham and Eastbourne.
Although they can’t stop Wimbledon from happening, this would be a disastrous move from the LTA considering the financial damage they have suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The financial consequences don’t stop there as the LTA were fined 1.4 million last year for their decision to ban Russian and Belarussian athletes although that fine could be halved if they change their minds this year.
Speaking to The Times, Evans has criticised the decision and claims that now is the time for sensible discussion, “It’s a sad state of affairs if Queen’s wasn’t on,” Evans said in the interview.
“I’m not a fan of the threats. The ATP should not throw stones when they live in glass houses. Queen’s is one of the best and most prestigious tournaments on the tour, which has done a lot for the ATP Tour in its time.
“I’m a massive advocate for the ATP generally. They do great things but we have to have sensible conversations. I don’t think threatening the LTA with taking away the licence for these events is how it’s going to be resolved.
“It affects all of the Brits. They’re not going to get chances or playing opportunities with a wild card. I think common sense should prevail. The LTA’s hands are tied a little bit as well. This subject goes a bit bigger than tennis federations and governing bodies.”
A decision will be made in the next month as Wimbledon are set to have their spring press conference.
Meanwhile Evans will look to recover from an ankle injury that he suffered in Dubai as he prepares for the tournament in Indian Wells which starts in next week.
